Apparatus for and method of handling films or other articles



Jan. 26, 1932.

' w. J. WILLIAMS 1,842,890

APPARATUS -FOR AND METHOD HANDLING FILMS OR OTHER ARTICLES Filed Aug. 6, 1926 D 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 g ATTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1932.

w. J. WILLIAMS APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF HANDLING FILMS 0R OTHER ARTICLES Filed Aug. 6, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 26, 1932. w. J. WILLIAMS APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF HANDLING FILMS OR OTHER ARTICLES Filed Aug. 6, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 2 INVENToR /urf/rf Mlm/1.5'

BY i2 7 Jan. 26, 1932. w. J. WILLIAMS APPARATUS 'FOR AND METHOD OF HANDLING FILMS OR OTHER ARTICLES 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 6

ATTORN EYHS Jan. 26, E932. W. J. WILLIAMS 1,842,890

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF HANDLING FILMS OR OTHER ARTICLES Filed Aug. 6. 1926 5 Sheeis-Sheet 5 TTORN EYS I Patented Jan. 26, 1932 'i UNITED ,STATES PATENT oFFlc WALTER J. WILLIAMS, 0F woonHAvEN, Naw Yoan APPARATUS FOR METOD OF HANDLING 'FILMS OR OTHER application mea August s, 1926. serial no. 127,547. u

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for and methods of handling films or other articles.

.Some of the objects of this invention are to produce a novel film-developing apparatus in which the number or size of the films han-l dled may be greatly increased; `in which filmvcarriers preferably of large film-carrying area and adapted to carry a plurality of films are loosely mounted and means is provided for mechanically conveying such looselymounted film-carriers to move films in immersed condition through a receptacle having a plurality of separate containers adapted to contain developing liquids; to provide novel conveyer mechanism which automatically engages, moves and disengages from each carrier and preferably advances the carriers through a container by a series of lifting, conveying and depositing movements; to provide means whereby a carrier of increased film-carrying area or a series of's-uch carriers may be subjected to successive 1ifting,'convey ing and depositing movements through treating zones within solutions*4 contained in said containers; also to provide improved vmeans by which such a carrier or a plurality of such carriers may be elevated out of one container, moved or shifted across the container walls or partition and lowered into the next container; to provide means for accurately t measuring the time period during which the films are .subjected to the action of the treating solutions in the various sections of the' treating zone; to provide means whereby the time period of subjection of a film or ihns to the liquid in a zone section 0r container lmay be varied if desired to provide a means whereby the `length of each of the film-immersng movements of a carrier through' the zones or containers will be accuratelyl similar; to' pro'- vicle means whereby the conveyer mechanism will be greatly simplified and improved and the usual clumsy conveyer chains together with the rattling and sagging 'thereof will be eliminated; to provide means for examining the film in wet condition preferably comprising means for elevating acarrier with its film or films into an examination zone at the end of the movement through thetreating zones in the containers, preferably combined-with llghtmg means in said zone`for examining the film or films in wet developed condition; to provide means for secondarily further elevatlng the carrier and films preferably from the said examining zone into a dr 'ng chamber and to cause the depositing o thesame on conveyer means within saidv chamber.

A Still other objects of my invention are to Y provide a single simple mechanism adapted to simultaneously move in the way specified all the film-carriers inthe various sections of the treating zone, and to pfovide a simple single elevating, shifting,and lowering mechanism which will be adapted to handle simultaneously all those ilm carriers which have reached the ends of the sections of the treating zones and to lift such carriers out ofthe Containers in treating-zone sections in which it is immersed and lower it into) the next succeeding container or zone-section; also to utilize the elevating and lowering member of such mechanism for the purpose of actuating a plurality lof shifting members to simultaneously.- shift the film carriers as aforesaid;

. also to utilize said elevating and loweringv member for actuating mechanism at a preer simple carrier-engaging or grippingV means which will, during the downward 'lol isf

movement of said elevating and lowering member, slide over the carrier bars but whic will positively engage the same on the upward ,movement to effect a transfer of the carriers to said elevating and lowering mechanism; also to provide means which will pos1'- tively effect a transfer of the carrier bar or carrier bars from the primary elevating member to the secondary elevating mechanism for moving carriers into the drying chamber.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a method of handling films whereb a plurality or group of films may be suspen ed from a single carrier and moved succes.

sively through treating solutions; to provide a method whereby a group of films may be successively immersed in and moved through treating zones in adjacent containers containing treating liquids and will have'a raising and lowering movement therein preferably combined with the conveyinor movement thereof; also to provide a method for successively transferring a carrier and group 0f films as a unit at the end of its travel or movement through each treating-Zone section from one container to another; also to provide a method of handling films whereby a carrier with a plurality of films are moved at different rates of speed respectively during immersion in the treating-zone sections and during transfer from one container to another and to provide a method by which the transfer from one container or zone section to another is synchronized with the conveyinO movement and preferably is transferred in the same time period as the conveyer mechanism takes to make a single step in its raising, conveying and depositing movement; also to provide a method by which the films on a single carrier are at the `end of the travel through all the treatino` zones transferred or shifted to a portion of the elevating mechanism and elevated into an examination zone wherein said carrier may be illuminated and thereafter said films are again shifted to another elevating mechanism to further elevate them into a drying Zone or chamber and to position the carrier on a conveyer mechanism caused to move intermittently through said drying chamber.

Other objects are to free the films within the solutions from bubbles and to produce incrased movement of the film within the liqui s.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to co-act and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanymg drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, llongitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on. the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 4c is -a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

l Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, lookingin the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section of the carrier-shifting mechanism and associated parts;

F ig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one side of the liquid containers and conveyer mechanism, the drying chamber of the machine being removed;

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged elevations, each composed of two related fragments and showing varying positions of the mechanism conveying carriers through the liquids.

Referring now to these drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my-in vention, 1 indicates a receptacle for a series yof treating solutions, which in the embodiment shown, is made of metal lined with porcelain and, as illustrated, comprises a series of four independent containers 2, 3, 4 and 5 arranged adjacent to each other and having abutting walls, 2-3, iin-4:', and 4-5. These-abutting walls of the containers are connected by inverted channel members 6 and are positioned within an upper frame member 7 which is in turn supported upon a lower base or frame member 8. The separatey containers or tanks are thus arranged to form sections of a vcontinuous receptacle for treating solutions which comprises a series of abutting' and connected through independent sections. These containers are preferably of Isimilar width and are supported on an upper frame of such width as to leave spaces between the sides of the containers and side frame plates 7 which .are provided with inwardly directed flanges 7 a at its upper end to form table p0rtions at opposite sides ofv said receptacle. The formation of the receptacle of a series of tanks enables porcelain-lined metal containers to be employed, thus insuring against leakage and permitting more ready knocking down and the shipment of the machine in more compact form.

In'the preferred embodiment of my invention, a single wide film of large or increased area or a series or group of narrower ilms are mounted on a horizontally-disposed carrier bar 10 and, as illustrated, three films are arranged in vertical series connected at their opposite ends to a frame or rack 11 composed of a pair of vertically-disposed carrier-bars 11a and horizontal strips 11b 'which are preferably provided with teeth or notches to permit the mounting thereon of film strips of varying lengths by means of clips 11. The said frame or rack extends vertically within the liquid in the tanks and the vertical bars thereof are attached at their upper end to said horizontally-disposed carrier-bar 10 which is of greaterlength than the width of the containers and adapted to extend beyond the side edges of the containers and over table ianges la to rest loosely on and be moved by conveyer mechanism arranged at the sides of said tanks. I thus provide a carrier adapted to carry, as a single unit, a plurality or group of narrow films or a single film or like photographic unit of wide or mcreased area -lll f with sim' so that one ofitsl notches'lf moves across .partition and then lowered at the end of its movement through an imm'ersing zone section or tank the bars are elevated vertically to lift the frame and films out of such tank into an elevated osition in which fit is shiftedA -across the tan wallsor vertically into the next tank, 'and at the end "of the passage through all said immersing zones, the vcarrier is again elevated into an examining 'zone to be examined through suitable examining elements and said bar and films are subsequently again transferred'from the' initial elevated position by a secondary elevating mechanism which elevated the bar and films into a higher position in the drying chamber and into contact with suitable conveying mechanism within said chamber.

In the preferred embodiment of my machine shown, the conveyer mechanism embodies duplicate elements arranged on eachV side of the receptacle or container, each conveying element in the preferred embodiment comprising a pair of cooperating members' composed of a stationary member and a movable member, the duplicate members of 'each pair having a series' of notches adapted to receive the opposite ends of the bars 10. Thus each of the stationary members 12 are prov vided with-a series of notches 12 and a series` of pointed inter-notch with inclined sides.4

As shown, the stationary members`12 are fastened to the side sheathing plates 7. The movable member 13 of each pair is provided arly spaced notches 13 and teeth 131 therebetween and is arranged to have a combined vertical and horizontalmovement teeth 12* provided the positions of a plurality of notches in the stat1ona`ry-member and preferably moves across the positions of ltwo of such notches crossing one notch on its upward movement `and crossing an .adjacent notch on its down-- ward movement so that the registering notches of theV duplicate movable members will engage a carrier bar and it will be lifted out of the notches in the stationary member and be moved forwardl into thenext forward notches of ,th uplicate stationary members.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the movable members are .operated at'one end 'elevating of the said movable-bars on collars or straps 14 loosely mounted on' disks mounted at opposite endsofa shaft`16 rotated in any suitable manner and as shown connected. at 13b by suitable-power transmitting mechanism comprising a sprocket chain 15 eccentrically 17, sprocket wheel 18,- -Aon said shaft 16 to a sprocket wheel 19 on ashaft 20 rotated by a sprocket 21, chain 22 and rocket 23 from the shaft 24 which is rotated by aworm wheel 25 from a Worm 26 to the shaft27 of. the motor 28. The opposite ends of each of said bars are raised and lowered and guided inits conveying longitudinal movement by providing the disks 15.with crank pinsp29'and operating bell crank levers 30 by elongated links 31 to raise and lower said 'opposite ends of said bars, saidv bell crank levers 30 being providedwith grooves 30. to permit f a sliding movement of said conveyer member relative thereto.

It will be seen that each of these carrier bars rest loosely within the notches ofthe conveyer members; thatsaid members extend the full length of lthe receptacle crossing the various immersingzohe sections or'icontainers'thereofand that if operating alone, said movable conveying members which have ain. elliptical movementacross the plane in i' which'the carrier bars are supported on the stationary members, would pile the carrier bars up at each wall "of an lmmersing zone' section or container and morder tol l1ft the carrier bars out of 'a zone section or container when it reaches thelend thereof, I provide independent mechanism synchronized 'with said v conveyer mechanism4 but moving at a relatively higher speed -for the purpose of'.

elevating these carrier bars to. lift or elevate such of the carrier bars -as have'reached positions adjacent to the end walls of the containers in which the carriers are immersed, and during such velevationto mechanically .shift saidcarriers across the .said walls into aposition adjacent to the abuttingwall of the. next container and then to-lower the same into submersion in said next'container.- This g, shifting and lowering movement is preferably, as aforesaid, a mechanism independent from the carrier conveying mechanism and is timed to operate at a rate of speed that will permit complete elevation,y

shifting and lowering during one s tep of the Y carrier-conveying mechanis .In the preferred embodiment of my invention, four containers are employed and three transfer platforms 32, 33 and 3.4 respectively lare positioned to'corre'spond with ting walls orl partitions, and are utilized to raise, shift. and lower the said carrier bars,

as aforesaid. The second container, how yever, 1s soshort that I have comblned the two platforms for transferring the carrier across the abutting walls 2 .-3 and` 3-4. I also preferably provide a transfer platform 35 at the abutthe end of the machine adapted to elevate and transfer the carrier which has completed its movement through the immersing Zone of the machine into a position adjacent to an illuminating box 3G, where it may be eX- amined in wet condition to determine whether it has been properly treated and from which position it may, if desired, be manually removed and repositioned in the imlnersing zone for further treatment.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, all four duplicate transfer platforms are operated conjointly and connected together by longitudinal bars 37 which are connected to said platforms and extend longitudinally of the machine outside or beyond the vertical plane of the ends of those carrier bars which are still being conveyed through the immers-ing solutions so that only those bars reaching the transfer zone will be elevated, while the remaining bars will be undisturbed in their conveying movement through the treating solutions or liquids,

My preferred means for elevating all of these bars within the transfer zones simultaneously comprises a vertically movable guide bar 39 guided to move in a vertical path only at its opposite side edges in oppositely disposed grooves 40 formed between hearing sleeves 40, on stub shafts 40' mounted on stationary bearing plates 41 and held in place on said stub' shafts by nut 40h. Vertical reciprocating movement is imparted to said platform connecting bar 37 through connecting rods 42 pivoted at 42 at its upper end to said bar 37 and having a pivotal connection 42 at its lower end with crank members 43 mounted on a shaft 20. The pivotal connections between the said bars and crank members and between the said `connecting bars and platform connecting bars may be of any suitable form and,l as illustrated, each of these connections comprise a pivot portion provided with a grooved disk mounted thereon and a pivot strap riding on said disk so as to allow pivotal movement between said strap and disk. Obviously when the crank members revolve, the connect-ing rods 42 will reciprocate the platform connecting bar upwardly and downwardly and this movement will be controlled by the vertically movable guiding bar 39.

In order to shift the carrier bars elevated by the platforms across the abutting container walls, I preferably suppor."J in position to engage said carrier bars when so elevated, a series of duplicate shifting members 44, 45 and 46. As illustrated, the shifting members at eachside of the receptacle are connected together and supported from the bottom of a drying -chamber 47 hereinafter more particularly referred to and all of these members arev preferably operated together by connecting them together by a rod 48 to form racks which are operated through the rsaaseo use of duplicate shifter mechanisms each comprising a bell crank lever 49 pivoted on a pivot 50 supported in a lug 5l at the bottom of the said drying chamber or compartment 47, said bell crank having an operating arm 49 provided with a pin 43a adapted to be engaged by the said platform connecting bar in its upward movement to swing the bell crank about the pivot 50 and to cause the opposite arm 49b to move arcuate links 52 having a pivotal connection therewith, which links are connected to the shifter connecting rod 48and moves the said rod and Shifters in a horizontal plane.

It will be understood that upon the upward movement of the platform connecting bar, it will engage the studs or pins 49a to rock the bell cranks which will in turn move the links and cause a shifting of the shifter rod 4S with its depending Shifters 44, 45 and 4G which will, during this shifting movement, engage carrier bars which have been elevated on said platform and shift them on said platforms forwardly into positions to clear the walls or partitions, so that upon the loweringof said platforms the vertical portions of the carrier bars with the frames and films carried thereby will be immersed in the immersing zone and the end portions of the horizontal carrier bars 10 will be disposed on the conveyer mechanism. i

The reverse movement of said shifters is effected by having one of the arms of said bell crank 49 connected to one end of an expansion spring 53, the other end of which is anchored at a fixed point 53 so that when the bar is lowered the shifter operating mechanism will be returned to initial position by said spring.

In order to enable the picking up of a carrier bar in its path by a platform, I preferably provide on each platform, resilient means adapted upon the downward movement of the platform to resiliently ride or slip over said bar but on the upward movement to engage the bar ends and retain the same on the platform.

Thus each of the transfer platforms are preferably provided with a spring clip 55 and at the end of the machine I also preferably provide on the transfer platform 35 a y similarv clip 55 for engaging the carrier bar that has completed movement through the im mersing zone movement, or reached the end of the machine. This platform will lift the ends of said bar into engagement with upwardly inclined surfaces 56 of an examining hooked rest 57 formed on the end of a track 58. This inclined surface will, during the elevations of the carrier, force the bar outwardly into engagement with additional spring fingers 59 carried by said transfer' platform 35, which fingers, during further elevation, will resiliently retain the same in Contact with said inclined surface and at the thereafter to move the same into the drying compartment 47 through which the films are moved with an intermittent movement in order to dry the same. Y

In the preferred apparatus shown, the vfilms are raised or elevated out of the'notches 60 in the hooked supporting or rest portions 57 by hooked arms 61 pivoted at 62 on opposltewalls of the drying compartment 47 which arms are operated and synchronized with the raising and lowering movement of the elevating mechanism. These hooked arms 61 are, as shown, operated toV swing about their pivots 62 by means of bell crank levers 63 having arms 63 partially connected at 63a to link arms 64 provided with slot and pin connections 64 with the pivots 42 on which the connecting rod 42 swlngs, the opposite arms 63b of said bell-crank levers 63 being pivotally connected at 63 to an operating rod 65 which is pivoted at 65 to a pawl-mounting arm66'p1voted ona shaft 68 and carrying fil a pivoted pawl 67 engaging a ratchet wheel 69 iixed on said shaft is mounted at opposite 5f and an outlet 76. The container 4 has an ends in the wallso. the drying chamber, which extends thr apparent from the foregoing description.

I preferabl provide in the container 2a cooling coil -7 and an outlet 77. The container is provided with an overflow pipe 7 8 outlet 79 while the container 5 is provided with an agitating spray device yand provided with an inlet p pe 74 and said container 5 also has an outlet pipe 80.

The drying chamber is provided with suitl' able heatin and blowing means. As shown I provide 'eating coils 83 and a` chain 82.

for the urpose of supplying heated air within the rying chamber.

ugh the dryingchamber and has mounted at opposite ends thereofv ..H'aving described my invention, I claim 1. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive film treating solution, a film carrier embodyl ing a carrier bar extending transversely of said receptacle and supporting a film withinthe solution in said receptacle, and means for moving said carrier bar to cause the movementvof said film through the solution in a combined longitudinal and up and down motion. 4

2. A film'developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a recefptacle to receive lm carrier eming a carrier bar extending transversely of said receptacle and supporting a lm Within the solution insaid receptacle, and means for moving said carrier bar to cause the movement of said film through the solution in a movement describing an elliptical curve.

. 4. A filmdeveloping apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive n1 treating solution, a film carrier embodying a carrier bar extending transversely over said receptacle andsu portinga ilm withinthe solution in sai receptacle, and conveyerl mechanism for moving said film through the solution in the receptacle arranged to successively engage, move the bar longitudinally gage the same.

5. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive lfilm treating solutlon, a film carrier emof the receptacle and disenbodying a carrier bar extending transversely over said receptacle and supporting a ilm within the. solutlon in said receptacle, and conveyer mechanism for moving said film through the solution inIl the receptacle arranged to move the bar in a series of successive lifting, conveying'I and depositing movements.

6.I A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive film treating solution, a film carrier embodying a carrier bar extending transversely over said-receptacle and vsu porting a film withinthe solution in sai receptacle and conveyer mechanism for moving said film through; the solution in the. rece tacle arranged to move the barlongitu inally of said receptacle in a series of successive movements in curvilinear paths. f 7. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive film treating solution, a. lm carrier embodying a carrier bar extending transversely over said receptacle and supporting a film within the solution in said receptacle and conveyer mechanism for moving said film through the solution in the receptacle arranged to move said bar longitudinally of said receptacle in a series of successive movements in elliptical paths.

8. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive film treating solution, a film carrier embodying a carrier bar extending transversely over said receptacle and supporting a film within the solution in said receptacle, .and conveyer mechanism for moving said film through the solution having a member movable in a continuous curvilinear path of movement arranged to pick up the bar at one point in said movement, to carry it for a portion of said movement and disengage it in advanced position along said receptacle at another point in said movement.

9. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive film treating solution, a film carrier embodying a carrier bar extending transversely over said receptacle and supporting a film within the solution in said receptacle, and conveyer mechanism .for moving said transverse bar to move a film supported thereby through the solution in the receptacle comprising duplicate notched stationary members and duplicate movable members having notches and moved to cause a set of notches in said movable members first to register with a set of notches in said stationary,7 member and later to register with an adjacent set of notches in said staionary member, whereby a carrier bar supported in the first notch will be picked up and moved into a notch adjacent thereto.

l0. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive film treating solution, a film carrier embodying a carrier bar extending transversely over said receptacle and supporting a film within the solution in said receptacle, and conveyer mechanism for moving said transverse bar to move a film supported thereby through the solution in the receptacle comprising duplicate notched stationary members and duplicate movable members having notches and moved in a continuous curvilinear path to cause a set of notches in said movable members in a forward point of said movement first to register with a set of notches in said stationary member and near the end of its forward movement to register with an ad] acent set of notches in said stationary member, whereby a carrier bar supported in the first notch will be picked up and moved into a ynotch adjacent thereto.

11. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive film treating solution, a film carrier embodying a carrier bar extending transversely over said receptacle and a supporting film within the solution in said receptacle, and conveyer mechanism for moving said film through the solution in the receptacle comprising duplicate notched stationary members and duplicate movable members also having notches and moved in a continuous curvilinear path to cause a notch in said movable members at a point in the forward movement to register with a notch in said stationary member and near the end of its forward movement to register with an adjacent notch of said stationary member, said duplicate stationary and movable members having teeth with inclined side edges arranged between said notches, whereby a carrier-bar supported in one set of notches in the duplicate stationary members will be picked up and moved into a set of notches adjacent thereto, and the bars will be guided to the bottom of said notches.

1Q. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive treating solution comprising a plurality of separated film-immersing sections, each adapted to contain a different film treating solution, means for movin-g a film through the solutions in said sections in a combined longitudinal and up and down motion, and means at the end of said separate sections for lifting the film out of one section, moving it across the separating element and depositing it in the next adjacent section.

13. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive treating solution comprising a plurality of separated film-immersing sections, each adapted to contain a different film treating solution, meansfor moving a film through the solutions in said sections in a series of curvilinear advancingr movements, and means at the end of said separate sections for lifting the film out of one section, moving it across the separating element and depositing it in the next adjacent section.

14. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive treating solution, comprising a plurality of separated film-immersing sections, each adapted to contain a different film-treating solution, means for moving a film through the solutions in said sections in a combined longitudinal and up and down motion, means at the end of said separate sections for lifting the film out of one section, moving it across the separating element and depositing it in the next adjacent section, means at the end of said receptacle for elevating a film out of the receptacle into an examination zone, and illuminating means arranged in said zone for examining a film so elevated.

l5. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive treating solution, comprising a plurality of separated film-immersing sections, each adapted to contain a different film-treating solution, means for movin a film through the solutions in said sections 1n a series of curvilinear advancing movements, means at the end of said separateA sections for liftingthe film out of one section, moving it across Vthe separating element and depos1ting it in the next' adjacent section, means at the end of said receptacle for elevating a film outof the receptacle into an examination zone, and illuminating means arranged in saidzone for examining a film so elevated.

16. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive treating solution comprising a plurality of separated film-immersing sections, each adapted to contain adiferent film treating solution, means for moving a film through the solutions in said sections in a combined longitudinal and up and down motion, means at the end of said separate sections for lifting the film out of one section, moving it across the separating element and depositing it in the next adjacent section, means at the end of said receptacle for elevating said film out of said receptacle, and/means for further elevating said film into a drying zone.

17. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive treating solution comprising a plurality of separated film-immersing sections, each adapted to contain a different film treating solution, means fonmoving a film through the solutions in said sections in a series of curvilinear advancing movements, means at the end of said separate sections for lifting the film out of one section, moving it across the separating element and depositing it in the nextadjacent section, means at the end of said receptacle for elevating said-film out of said receptacle, and means for further elevating said film into a ldrying zone.

18. A film developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive lm treating solution comprising a plurality of separated immersing sections, adapted to contain a different film-treating solution, a film-carrier embodying a bar extending transversely over said receptacle and 'supporting a film Within the solution in said receptacle, conveyer-mechanism for moving said bars to move the iilm through the solution in the receptacle comprising duplicate -notched stationary members and duplicate movable members having notches and movedin a continuous curvilinear path to cause a moving in a vertical path and set of notches in said movable members, in a forward point of said movement, to register with a set of notches in said stationary member and near the end of its forward movement to register with an adjacent set of notches in said stationary member, and elevating mechanism for said bars comprising means means moving in a horizontal path intersecting said vertieach- .film treating solutionicomprising a plurality of separated immersing sections, each adapted to contain a different film-treating so1ution, a film-carrier embodying a bar extending transversely over said receptacle and supporting a film within the solution in said receptacle, conveyer-mechanism for moving said bars to move the film through the solution in the receptacle comprising duplicate notched stationary members and duplicate movable members having notches and moved in a continuous curvilinear path to cause a set of notches in said movable members, in a forward point of said movement, to register With a set of notches in said stationary member and near the end of its forward movement to register with an adjacent set Vof notches in said stationary member, said duplicate sta4- tionary and movable members having teeth With inclined side edges arranged between said notches and elevating mechanism for said bars comprising means moving in a ver" j tical path and means moving in a horizontal path intersecting said vertical path for ele-` vating said rod, shifting said rod While elevated and lowering the same.

20. The method of handling films consisting in supporting a film on a receptacle containing a treating liquid, immersing said supported film in said treating liquid,.and repeatedly engaging, lifting, traversing and depositing said film-support to cause said immersed film to have a combined raising, lowering and conveying ,movement in the said li uid.

q21. The method of handling films consist-v ing in supporting a film on a receptacle contaming a treating liquid, immersing said supported film in said treating liquid, and repeatedly at substantially regular intervals engaging, lifting, traversing and depositing said film-support to cause said immersed film to lhave a combined up and Adown and horizontal movement.I

22. The method of handling films consisting in supporting a film on a receptacle containing a treating liquid, immersing said supported film in said treating liquid, and suc- 23. A film-developing apparatus embody' ing, in combination, a receptacle to receive a treating solution, a carrier embodying a carrier bar extending transversely of said receptacle and supporting an article to be treated Within the solution in said receptacle, and a conveyor mechanism for moving said carrier bar to cause the movement of said article through the solution comprising a pair of bars mounted on each side of said receptacle and having notches at their upper surfaces, one of the members of each pair of bars having a relative movement across the plane and in a direction longitudinally of the other member to cause thc notches in such relatively movable member first to register with one set of notches in the other member and later to register with another set of notches in the same member in advance of the set of notches first mentioned.

24. A film-developing apparatus embodying, in combination, a receptacle to receive treating solution, comprising a. plurality of separated film-immersing sections each adapted to contain a different film-treating solution, a plurality of film carrier bars extending transversely of said receptacle over a plurality of said sections and supporting films Within the solutions in the said sections, mea-ns for traversing the said carrier bars from the forward to the rear end of each of said plurality of sections to cause the movement of said, films carried thereby through the solutions iin said sections, and means for simultaneously lifting all those film carrier bars and films Awhich have reached the rear ends of the sections, moving said bars and films carried thereby across the separating elements and depositing them in adjacent sections.

'In Witness whereof, I have signed my name to the foregoin specification.

VVAL'l` R J. WILLIAMS. 

